First published 2016
Most people want to help others but rely on emotions rather than evidence when choosing charities or careers. Oxford researcher William MacAskill faced this problem while deciding how to maximize his own impact. He found that poor information and bias waste enormous potential for positive change. MacAskill and his colleagues created effective altruism, a practical method that uses data to guide decisions about doing good. The approach centers on five questions: How many people benefit and by how much? Is this the most effective action? Is this area neglected? What would happen otherwise? What are the odds of success? MacAskill applies these questions to show why common assumptions fail. A plastic surgeon might save more lives than a heart surgeon. Overhead costs poorly measure charity effectiveness. Disaster relief donations often make little sense. The book argues for evidence and reasoning over impulse, demonstrating how anyone can achieve remarkable good through careful thinking.
Genres: philosophy, psychology, social-science, business, non-fiction, academic
Vibes: informative, persuasive, thought-provoking
Tropes: academic-journey, career-crossroads, evidence-over-emotion
Perfect Paperback · Ullstein Verlag GmbH